10 November 2015

Ellex to Host Vitreolysis Symposium at AAO 2015 Meeting

Adelaide, Australia, 10 November 2015 – Ellex Medical Lasers Pty (Adelaide, Australia) will host a breakfast symposium featuring world-renowned experts in laser vitreolysis at the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) being held in Las Vegas, USA from November 14-17.

The symposium, which will be held on Sunday, November 15 at The Mirage, St Croix A&B from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, will feature a panel of expert speakers including Paul Inder Singh, MD (USA), Karl Stonecipher, MD (USA) and Karl
Brasse, MD (Germany).

The panel will be sharing their experience with Ellex’s Ultra Q Reflex™ technology, the first and only YAG laser designed specifically for the
treatment of vitreous strands and opacities.

The Ultra Q Reflex™
Conventional YAG laser technology typically provides a limited view of the vitreous making it difficult to identify the target opacities. In order to perform vitreolysis successfully, it is necessary to have coaxial, off-axis and on-axis illumination to visualize the middle and posterior vitreous. All of these functions are provided by the Ultra Q Reflex™ system. The Ultra Q Reflex™ system’s illumination tower coaxially enhances the view of the target opacity by using the fundus red-reflex as a contrast comparison for more effective vaporization. In contrast, traditional YAG lasers deliver the illumination and laser from a low, non-coaxial position with larger convergence zones, making it extremely difficult to target and treat vitreous opacities in various locations. By also providing off-axis and on-axis illumination, the Ultra Q Reflex™ system provides spatial context so the surgeon can identify the relationship between the floater, the retina and the lens. This combination of
on- and off-axis thus allows for a safer and more efficacious treatment.

Quality of Life Gains
Although considered benign, bothersome vitreous strands or “floaters” are known to have a significant impact on the functioning and quality of life of some patients. Data published in 2011 describing the functional quality of life impairment associated with floaters in a study of 311 outpatients, showed that symptomatic floaters had a negative impact on health-related quality of life with utility values equal to age-related macular degeneration.1 By providing a viable and safe treatment option, laser vitreolysis provides an opportunity to enhance patient satisfaction as well as scope of practice.

Paul Inder Singh, MD, a general ophthalmologist who has performed over 1000 vitreolysis procedures with the Ultra Q Reflex™, recently conducted a
retrospective, observational study of 322 patients, designed to assess the impact of laser vitreolysis on patient satisfaction. “The results showed that there was a 70% improvement after one session, rising to a 90% improvement after multiple sessions,” said Dr Singh. “Overall, 93% of patients
also said that they experienced a significant improvement in daily functioning.

Refractive surgeon, Karl Stonecipher, MD, also notes that laser vitreolysis has proved a positive addition to his busy practice. “The treatment is safe, effective and pain-free with a very low complication rate. The bottom line is that we have enabled scores of patients to achieve functional improvements in their vision and greatly improved their quality of life in the process,” he says.

Ellex is also hosting Meet the Expert sessions at the Ellex Exhibit (#3755) on Saturday November 14 and Sunday November 15 from 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
where Drs Singh, Stonecipher and Brasse will be joined by Andrjez Dmitriew, MD (Poland) to share their surgical tips and experience with the Ultra Q
Reflex™ system.